Every Coin has Two Sides

My head jerked back at the sound of an explosion
Grabbed my gear and hurried fast toward the commotion
All I saw were bodies and smoke
Frank, my fellow soldier screamed out “Help, my leg is broken.”

The smell made me nauseous
Trying hard, had to be cautious
Maybe more of them around
Felt my hand wet on the ground
From blood that sizzled on hot black top
Frank is passed out and the bleeding I cannot stop

Three of my brothers were down
Six civilians, three women
Two men and a boy
By this time they’d deployed
Reinforcements and medical staff

Later that night I found out Frank had died
I had to hide the tears I cried
For all my heart I really tried to stop the bleeding
They said that there was bleeding from inside
He’d fractured ribs

Also found out that it was a Twelve year old kid
That blew him up with grenades
He had concealed inside his stuff
The kid took the life of my best friend in this desert
This hot as hell, disgusting smelling fucking desert

What’s wrong with these people don’t they know
We’re here to help them, bring them freedom
Better lives, but instead they help to hide
These insurgents from the east
Who target us, destroy the peace

They’re crazy talk about Allah
Then blow up kids with bombs in cars
Animals is closer still
That’s why I cannot wait to kill
A terrorist with all my will

They attacked us first
9-11 sent to heaven
Thousands in New York

Still we protect them
Just glad that Bush
Has done so much to protect us
Because of him we fight them here
Not at home, back in America

I miss my home and all my family
Miss my girl, just hope she waits for me
Makes me sick to think of all those cowards we protect
Protesting back at college while we’re here risking our necks
Half way across the world in the desert

Long beard Bin Ladin and his towel head troops
If I see them lord knows waste no time before I shoot
When I first came I wanted to help these people and their country
Now I’ve given up they should deal with their own problems
They messed it all up, so why should we be forced to solve them

Next day receive the news
We’re out on raids
gained some ground we cannot lose
There is a chance for volunteers
And so I choose
To go along to help the cause

It is time to get inside
Find the places that they hide
Take them back dead or alive

I am a patriotic person
Here’s my version of the truth
This is not a war that
America can afford to lose

We pull out of the base
Middle of the night
Vision gear is packed in the back
Full vest and helmets strapped tight

The desert is a cold place
Once the sun goes down
It’s another hour to the town
Where they’re hiding

Intelligence gave us a list
Of where to hit
And who to take

My heart is pounding as we line up ready to rush the first door…


“Wake up!” my mother cries as she pulls me from my bed
A smash kicks in my door, a man’s words I do not know
Screaming pointing at the floor

He holds a gun, he is a soldier
There are four men moving swiftly
Aiming rifles at us quickly

Barking orders

My brother’s head is dripping, with blood
His clothes their ripping
Pants their pulling and unzipping
He begs “why my clothes you’re stripping?”

What have we done I’m thinking
We must have done something?
Why are the soldiers beating my brother?

Strongly snatched from the arms of my mother
She tries to stand to pull me back, but she is pushed down
Soldier grabs me by my collar lifts my feet up off the ground

He yells words at me in English
I stare stupid in his eyes
Shaking his head slowly
He just drops me by his side

I can see now that they’re loading my brother in their tuck
Screaming, “Stop!” I stand up.
Butt of a rifle sits me down

As they drive away I’m thinking
Their path grows smaller, shrinking
Fifteen minuets ago we lay in our beds sleeping
Now my brothers bruised and beaten
Dragged him off and left us weeping

We spend the night just sitting, praying
“He’ll be alright,” I keep on saying
Truth is I don’t know
Don’t know where they took him or why?

Alone along the streets I walk
Half in fear and whole in shock

“I can help you with your brother,”
Words are whispered by a stranger
I turn to look…
“Let us leave” he says, for here we are in danger

Down an alley way we dart
Hear the pounding of my heart
He calls out “Quickly!”
“For the meeting soon shall start”

“What meeting?” mumbles from me
There are no meetings on a Sunday

At a door we stop
The man gives twice a knock
Two large men undo the lock
I freeze up with hesitation
The two men are not so patient
Pull me in and lock the door
Explain “we’re only here to talk”

We walk into a room filled with people speaking softly
A man tall and thin with a beard long and slim
Walks to the front of the floor

All attentions on this fellow
As his words begin to bellow
I’m in awe to stand and hear his words
Spoken strongly and so true
Of occupation for our oil
Political powers and abuse
Propaganda of insurgents and
Of time becoming urgent

People spoke were just like me
Some lost homes and family
One woman spoke of her son
He was 12, same age as me
Her words still haunt my mind:
“The bombs were falling from the sky,
That were filled with tearful cries
Asking why?
To our God unseen by eyes
Why was my son so young to die?”

The meeting ended with a prayer
And my personal realization that something had to be done.

I attended meeting after meeting
Pamfleets and my prayers
Everyday I’d spend them reading

Late at night I woke up wet
Dripping wet from body’s sweat
Trying hard, but can’t forget

Wish we had guns of our own
For then we should have shown
Who was weak and who was strong
When they came into our home

I can never change the past
But I can arrange the future
Never be a coward sheep
Nor a leech or lying looter
For the cause I’ll be a shooter

My head is holding high
Heart and mind is filled with pride
As I stare up at the sky
Yell, “I am not afraid to die!”

The next morning myself and four others sat in prayer
With thoughts of heaven
I know my cause is true
Feel no fear for what I’ll do

My only worries for my mother
She’ll find comfort with the others
For I must avenge my brother
And in heaven help I love her.